Las Vegas Review-Journal (Sunday)
Backup QB keys Clemson victory
CLEMSON, S.C. — D.J. Uiagalelei tapped backup quarterback Cade Klubnik on the helmet and gave him a final piece of advice before the freshman headed to the field with No. 5 Clemson down by 11 points in the third quarter.
“You’re ready for this,” Uiagalelei said. Clemson’s starter was right. Klubnik, a five-star newcomer, led the fifth-ranked Tigers to two fourth-quarter touchdowns Saturday in a 27-21 win over No. 14 Syracuse.
Will Shipley scored twice on the ground, including a goahead 50-yard TD run with 11:26 to go, and totaled a career-high 172 yards rushing.
Clemson (8-0, 6-0 Atlantic Coast) rallied from 14 points down in the first half for its 14th straight win overall and ACC record-setting 38th straight home victory, maintaining control of the ACC Atlantic Division as the league’s last unbeaten.
And it likely wouldn’t have happened without Klubnik’s steady hand in the final 20 minutes.
Uiagalelei had his worst game of the season with two interceptions — he had two in the first seven games — and a fumble that the Orange (6-1, 3-1) returned for a 90-yard TD as the Tigers fell behind 21-7.
Klubnik’s spark was immediate. He led a 15-play, 80-yard drive finished by Phil Mafah’s 1-yard bull rush.
After a Syracuse punt, Klubnik opened the next series with an 11-yard run before Shipley’s score that put Clemson up 22-21. The Tigers went for two as Klubnik escaped a defender in the backfield, rolled right and found wide receiver Joseph Ngata for the conversion.
Klubnik punched the air, and Death Valley erupted in a frenzy.
“Just excited to get my moment,” Klubnik said. “It was awesome — such a great environment today.”
Will there be more ahead this year? Perhaps not.
“As far as D.J., D.J.’S our starter. D.J.’S our leader,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. “Nothing’s changed there.”
Klubnik’s chance came because the Orange pressured Uiagalelei into mistakes. Safety Ja’had Carter had Syracuse’s first interception and then picked up a ball Uiagalelei dropped and ran uncontested for a score.
■ No. 2 Ohio State 54, Iowa 10: At Columbus, Ohio, C.J. Stroud threw for 286 yards with four second-half TDS for the Buckeyes (7-0, 4-0 Big Ten), who forced six turnovers by the Hawkeyes (3-4, 1-3). Ohio State safety Tanner Mccalister had two interceptions, and linebacker Tommy Eichenberg returned an interception 15 yards for a Buckeyes TD. Iowa’s six turnovers were its most since 2009, and the Hawkeyes allowed their most points since 1995.
■ No. 3 Tennessee 65, Tennessee-martin 24: At Knoxville, Tenn., tight end Princeton Fant had TD runs of 1 and 11 yards and threw a 66-yard TD pass to wide receiver Jalin Hyatt for the Volunteers (7-0). Hyatt had seven catches for 174 yards and two TDS. Dresser Winn threw for 301 yards and two TDS for the Skyhawks (4-3), who were ranked No. 14 among FCS teams.
■ No. 6 Alabama 30, No. 24 Mississippi State 6: At Tuscaloosa, Ala., Bryce Young passed for 249 yards and two TDS for the Crimson Tide (7-1, 4-1 Southeastern), who shut out the Bulldogs (5-3, 3-3) until Jo’quavious Marks’ 1-yard TD run on the final play. It was the first TD that Mississippi State has scored against Alabama in three meetings under coach Mike Leach while getting outscored 120-15.
■ Louisiana State 45, No. 7 Mississippi 20: At Baton Rouge, La., Jayden Daniels ran for 121 yards and three TDS and passed for 121 yards and two TDS without a turnover for the Tigers (6-2, 4-1 SEC), who overcame a 17-3 deficit. The Rebels (7-1, 3-1) were outgained 500-404 in yards of offense.
■ No. 11 Oklahoma State 41, No. 20 Texas 34: At Stillwater, Okla., Spencer Sanders threw for 391 yards and two TDS, including a go-ahead 41-yard TD to wide receiver Bryson Green with 3:09 left, for the Cowboys (6-1, 3-1 Big 12), who trailed 31-24 at halftime. Green had five catches for 133 yards. Bijan Robinson ran for 140 yards and a TD and caught a 41yard TD pass from Quinn Ewers for the Longhorns (5-3, 3-2).
■ No. 13 Wake Forest 43, Boston College 15: At Winston-salem, N.C., Sam Hartman threw for 313 yards and five TDS for the Demon Deacons (6-1, 2-1 ACC) in their first home win over the Eagles (2-5, 1-4) in 10 years. All of Hartman’s TD throws — including two apiece to wide receivers Taylor Morin and Jahmal Banks — were to receivers already in the end zone.
■ No. 16 Penn State 45, Minnesota 17: At State College, Pa., Sean Clifford threw for 295 yards and four TDS for the Nittany Lions (6-1, 3-1 Big Ten), who forced seven punts. Freshman Athan Kaliakmanis started at QB in place of injured Tanner Morgan for the Gophers (4-3, 1-3) and threw for 175 yards.
■ No. 21 Cincinnati 29, Southern Methodist 27: At Dallas, Ryan Coe kicked five field goals, including a 52-yarder, for the Bearcats (6-1, 3-0 American Athletic), who broke up a tying 2-point conversion try by the Mustangs (3-4, 1-2) with 1:57 left. Cincinnati notched its sixth straight win and 19th in a row against league foes.
■ No. 25 Tulane 38, Memphis 28: At New Orleans, Michael Pratt threw for 158 yards and a TD and ran for a score for the Green Wave (7-1, 4-0 AAC) in their first game as a ranked team since 1998. Wide receiver Eddie Lewis had three catches for 94 yards and two TDS for the Tigers (4-4, 2-3), who trailed 35-0 at halftime.
■ Liberty 41, Brigham Young 14: At Lynchburg, Va., Dae Dae Hunter ran for 213 yards and a TD on 23 carries for the Flames (7-1), who overcame a 14-3 deficit in their fifth straight win. The Cougars (4-4) managed 71 yards rushing on 16 carries in their third loss in a row.